PalmOne spurns Cobalt, but suitors wait in wings for new PalmOS for PDAphones

PalmOne spurns Cobalt, but suitors wait in wings for new PalmOS for PDAphones

Published by johnbartley
09-27-2004

PalmOne spurns Cobalt, but suitors wait in wings for new PalmOS for PDAphones

This eWeek article discusses Cobalt, the next-gen phone-centric OS from PalmSource, before it wanders off to quote ecstatic Treo 600 users.

PalmOne has decided not to use Cobalt in the Treo 650 'Ace', slowly making its way east to American shores ('due next month').

However, PalmSource nabobs are optimistic about the uptake of the new firmware, with a quote in the article stating ' the majority of their licensees, as well as several Asian ODMs (original design manufacturers), plan to support Cobalt within two years.'

The article continues:

Quote:

Cobalt 6.1 includes such features as interruptible hot sync and automatic backup. The operating system also includes support for Bluetooth, GSM (Global Systemé Mobile)/GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) and SIM (Subscriber Identity Model) card management. It also integrates directly with the software of the GSM radio. Cobalt includes an integrated phone pad.

Sounds like an improvement, although it will still take a bigger screen size than the 6xx to get me to abandon my dub-ya.

However, the article veers off to briefly note Palmsource will this week introduce

Quote:

a Web browser, an operating system installer, a developer suite and a mail client for Research In Motion Ltd.'s BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

All of the above are also good news for PalmSource and Palmists in general.

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John Bartley K7AAY | http://celdata.cjb.net | http://kiloseven.blogspot.com

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#1 (permalink)

By i330 on 09-28-2004, 09:28 AM

Here's some commentary on cobalt from our resident i500 engineer...

Quote:

Originally posted by scm6079

And while it's late and I'm babbling, everything I've read about cobalt tells me it's horrible, and no-one should want it. Stick with OS 5.x. No hacks (even worse than 5.x), huge concessions to phone manufacturers and people like sprint to keep people like me from making the product better. Code signing requirements, no access to ROM, lots and lots of nasties. And a few trivial features to appease users for what otherwise is nothing more than an OS that takes the power from the users, and gives it to big corporations who want to decide what YOU should do, not let you make up your own mind. Antialiasing in the draw functions was the only good feature I saw. I say *nay* to cobalt.

-Scott

#2 (permalink)

By jimn367 on 09-28-2004, 05:49 PM

Okay that's a developers perspective, but what about the user perspective? If the Cobalt OS makes the use of the device less kludged and more seamless from a user perspective then I'd be for it.

Maybe 5.x is better, maybe not. I'll wait for devices and make my evaluation then. Additionally, tightening the noose to improve product stability isn't necessarily a negative. Obviously having an OS that is hack-able is a nightmare from a data security perspective. That is why the lowly, tepid RIM outsells the treo over 2-1.

The OS isn't taking power from the "users" it's taking some freedom from developers to try and increase system reliability.

All those that haven't had their PPC or Palm smartphone crash on them at a very bad time please raise your hand (sound of crickets chirping)

All those Blackberry users who haven't had their phone crash (many hands raised)

Last edited by jimn367 : 09-29-2004 at 05:09 PM.

#3 (permalink)

By fouadanbari on 09-30-2004, 04:22 AM

PalmSource's BlackBerry effort bears fruit

Talking about BlackBerry, there might be a hibrid on the market soon. I wish I can see some pictures of this new device but anyways this is an intresting article which was just published on CNET:

Published: September 28, 2004, 10:15 AM PDT
By Dinesh C. Sharma
Special to CNET News.com

PalmSource said Tuesday that it is releasing the application programming interface needed to combine Research In Motion's wireless BlackBerry e-mail service with the Palm operating system.

The API is designed to let developers create secure mobile data applications to help with customer relationship management, sales force automation, supply chain management and other services for mobile devices using the Palm operating system and BlackBerry connectivity, the companies said.

In May, PalmSource and RIM outlined how they intended to work together on combining their products for third-party developers and gear makers. The effort centers on allowing PalmSource licensees to take advantage of RIM's licensing program, BlackBerry Connect, to put software in their devices that can access the always-on wireless service. The API, PalmSource Mail client for BlackBerry Connect, is one fruit of that collaboration.

"One of the strengths of the BlackBerry platform is that it enables developers to create secure enterprise applications using a security architecture that meets strict IT requirements and is already widely approved and deployed," Mike Lazaridis, president of Waterloo, Ontario-based RIM, said in a statement.

Details on pricing and availability were not immediately available.

#4 (permalink)

By Copasetic on 10-02-2004, 06:07 PM

Why not C(T)DMA?

Ok, I know that GSM is older, and GSM is in a LOT of places (I won't get into the better or worse argument here)...but C/TDMA have a lot to offer, and they are not that rare any more. Besides, they are invading Europe and Asia as we speak....so why doesn't PalmOne consider designing their OS for all 3 instead of just GSM? Seems that from a marketing standpoint, it would make everyone happy, and sell more phones...and doing it at the outset would make more sense than trying to make changes later...don't tell me there is some exclusive licensce just for GSM development?? Bleh.